Instructor Josh Guge

At the age of thirteen Joshua began his art career by selling his sculptures to art galleries. By the age of seventeen he began competing in numerous art competitions around the country where he has won many “best of show” honors. In 2000, Joshua began working on a series of cast reproductions for the Danbury Mint. After graduating from Judson University in 2002 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Visual Communications, he began his own wood sculpting company Guge Art, Inc. He has taught art at Westminster Christian School in Elgin, Illinois. He has also spent several years teaching hundreds of youth students at local co-op homeschooling groups. Josh continues to teach children and adults in his home studio, surrounding communities and around the country.

In 2004, Josh and Bob Guge became co-founders of The Guge Institute and Art Studio. This studio is located in Elgin, Illinois. Guge Institute classes include painting, carving, sculpting, drawing, airbrush, design and more.

Josh achieved one of his lifelong dreams in 2009, by becoming a World Champion sculptor. He won world titles in both the life-size and miniature divisions at the World Fish Carving Championships. In 2011, Josh became a three-time World Champion by winning “Best in World,” Life-size Category at the World FIsh Carving Championship. Josh has also been accepted into the prestigious “Birds in Art” exhibition at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in 2016, 2017 and 2018.